Kim Min-hee wins Best Acting at Locarno, shared with Monica Bellucci, as Hong Sang-soo film takes 3 awards

Hong Sang-soo's new film 눈 둘 데가 없네 (Nun Dul De Ga Eomne) won three awards at the closing ceremony of the 79th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland on August 15. The Director's Award went to Hong. Kim Min-hee shared the Best Acting Award with Monica Bellucci. The film also took the Ecumenical Jury Prize.

For Kim Min-hee, this marks her second Best Acting win at Locarno. She won previously for 수유천 in 2024. Hong's Director's Award is his second at the festival as well—he first won it for 우리 선희 in 2013. The film is his fifth official Locarno selection overall, after 우리 선희 (2013), 지금은맞고그때는틀리다 (2015), 강변호텔 (2018), and 수유천 (2024).

The Ecumenical Jury Prize is an independent award given by a jury of Swiss Protestant and Catholic church members to films that convey messages about human life and dignity, social values, peace and human rights, and spiritual dimensions. Production company Jeonwonsa received it for the first time.

The film follows Sang-hee (Kim Min-hee), raised by her grandparents after her parents' divorce, as she travels to Jeju Island to find her mother, whom she last saw 10 years ago. Kwon Hae-hyo, Shin Seok-ho, and Park Mi-so return as collaborators. Choi Myung-gil, working with Hong Sang-soo for the first time, plays the mother.

Kim Min-hee is credited as both actress and production manager. The Locarno ceremony marked her first public appearance since giving birth. Accepting the award, she said: "Thank you to the director for making such a beautifully poetic film."

(This is Hong's 35th feature as director.) 눈 둘 데가 없네 is scheduled for domestic release in the second half of 2026.